List of Abbreviations Used in This Dictionary

Dominus. See Dominie.

Don, don, n. a Spanish title, corresponding to English Sir, formerly applied only to noblemen, now to all classes: a fellow of a college, a college authority: (coll.) a swell, adept:—fem. Doña, in English, usually with the Italian spelling, Don′na.—adj. Don′nish, pertaining to a don: with the airs of a don.—ns. Don′nism, self-importance; Don′ship, rank or dignity of a don. [Sp.,—L. dominus.]

Don, don, v.t. to do or put on: to assume:—pr.p. don′ning; pa.p. donned. [A contr. of do on.]

Donat, do′nat, n. a grammar, a primer.—Also Don′et. [O. Fr. donat, from Ælius Donatus, author about 358 A.D. of a long famous Latin grammar.]

Donation, do-nā′shun, n. act of giving: that which is given, a gift of money or goods: (law) the act by which a person freely transfers his title to anything to another.—n. Dō′nary, a thing given to a sacred use.—v.t. Donāte′, to present a gift.—n. Don′ative, a gift: a gratuity: a benefice presented by the founder or patron without reference to the bishop.—adj. vested or vesting by donation.—ns. Donā′tor, one who makes a gift, a donor; Don′atory (Scots law), one to whom lands escheated to the crown are made over; Donee′, the person to whom a gift is made; Dō′nor, a giver: a benefactor.—Dona nobis, the last section of the mass, beginning 'Dona nobis pacem.' [Fr.,—L. donāre, -ātum—donum, a gift—dăre, to give.]

Donatists, don′a-tists, n.pl. the members of an African sect in the Christian Church of the 4th and 5th centuries, who protested against any diminution of the extreme reverence paid to martyrs, who treated the lapsed severely, and rebaptised converts from the Catholic Church.—n. Don′atism.—adjs. Donatis′tic, -al. [From Donatus, one of their leaders.]

Done, dun, pa.p. of Do, often with sense of utterly exhausted: so Done up, Done out.

Donga, dong′ga, n. the South African name for a channel or gully formed by the action of water.

Donjon, dun′jun, n. a strong central tower in ancient castles, to which the garrison retreated when hard pressed. [A doublet of dungeon.]

Donkey, dong′ki, n. the ass.—ns. Don′key-en′gine, a small engine used in steam-vessels for loading and unloading, pumping water into the boilers, &c.; Don′key-pump, an extra steam-pump. [Still regarded as slang in 1823. Perh. = dun-ik-ie, a double dim. of dun, from its colour; or from Duncan, cf. Dicky.]

Donna. See Don.

Donnered, don′erd, adj. (Scot.) stupefied, stunned.—Also Donn′erd, Donn′ert.

Do-nothing, dōō′-nuth′ing, n. one who does nothing: a lazy or idle person: a fainéant.—ns. Do-noth′ingism, Do-noth′ingness.

Donsie, don′si, adj. (Scot.) unlucky, perverse: neat, trim: sickly.

Don't, dōnt. For do not.

Donzel, don′zel, n. a page or squire:—fem. Donzel′la.

Doob, dōōb, n. Indian name for the dog's-tooth grass.

Dood, dōōd, n. a riding camel or dromedary. [Beng.]

Doodle, dōōd′l, v.t. (Scot.) to dandle.

Doodle, dōōd′l, v.i. (Scot.) to drone, as a bagpipe.

Dook, dōōk, n. (Scot.) a plug of wood driven into a wall to hold a nail, &c.

Doolefull, dōōl′fool, adj. (Spens.) = Doleful.—ns. Dool′-tree, Dule′-tree (Scot.), a tree that marks a place of mourning.

Doolie. See Dhooly.

Doom, dōōm, n. judgment: condemnation: destiny: ruin: final judgment: a picture of the Last Judgment.—v.t. to pronounce judgment on: to sentence: to condemn:—pr.p. dōōm′ing; pa.p. dōōmed.—adjs. Doomed, under sentence; Doom′ful (Spens.), full of doom, ruin, or destructive power.—adv. Dooms (Scot.) very, exceedingly.—ns. Dooms′day, the day of doom, the day when the world will be judged; Dooms′day-book (see Domesday); Dooms′man, one who pronounces doom or sentence, a judge.—Crack of doom, the signal for the final dissolution of all things, the last trump. [A.S. dóm, judgment.]

Doom-palm, dōōm′-päm, n. a kind of African palm, with a branched stem, tufts of fan-shaped leaves, and a fruit as big as an apple.

Door, dōr, n. the usual entrance into a house, room, or passage: the wooden frame on hinges closing up the entrance: a means of approach or access.—ns. Door′-bell; Door′-case, the frame which encloses a door; Door′-cheek (Scot.), one of the side-posts of a door; Door′-keep′er; Door′-knock′er; Door′-mat; Door′-nail; Door′-plate, a plate on or at a door with the householder's name on it; Door′-post, the jamb or side-piece of a door; Door′-sill, the threshold of a doorway; Door′-stead, a doorway; Door′-step, Door′-stone, the step-stone; Door′way, the entrance or passage closed by the door; Door′-yard, a yard about the door of a house; Fold′ing-door, a door in two halves, each of which may be folded back against the wall.—Darken one's door, to cross one's threshold; Death's door, on the point of death, in great danger of death; Next door to, in the house next to: near to, bordering upon, very nearly; Out of doors, in the open air; Show to the door, to dismiss with ignominy. [A.S. duru; Ger. thor, thür; Gr. thyra, L. fores (pl.), a door.]

Dop, dop, n. a copper cup with a wooden handle, in which a gem is soldered to be held while being cut or polished. [Dut.]

Dop, dop, v.i. to dip or duck.—n. a diving bird.

Dope, dōp, n. any thick liquid used as a lubricant, axle-grease: any absorbent material holding a thick liquid, as cotton-waste, or a substance used to hold nitro-glycerine. [Prob. Dut. doop, a dipping.]

Dopper, dop′er, n. a member of a rigid religious sect in South Africa.

Dopplerite, dop′ler-īt, n. a substance derived from the maceration of peat. [From Doppler, a German physicist.]

Doquet, dok′et, a form of docket.

Dor, dor, n. (obs.) a scoff, mockery, as 'to give (any one) the dor.' [Prob. Ice. dór, scoff.]

Dor, Dorr, dor, n. a kind of dung-beetle, also called Dor-beetle and Dor-fly; a cockchafer (in U.S. called Dor-bug): (obs.) a drone. [A.S. dora, a humble-bee.]

Dorado, dō-rä′dō, n. the dolphin, so called from its beautiful colour when dying. [Sp., from dorar, to gild—L. deaurāre, ātum. See Dory, El Dorado.]

Dorcas, dor′kas, n. given in Acts, ix. 36, as the Greek translation of Tabitha (Aramaic, 'female gazelle'), the name of the Christian woman of Joppa, famous for her good works, esp. the making of clothes for the poor—hence Dorcas societies, ladies' societies for making and providing clothes for the poor.

Doree. See Dory.

Dor-hawk, dor′-hawk, n. the common goatsucker, night-jar, or fern-owl.

Dorian, dō′ri-an, adj. and n. belonging to Doris in Greece, Doric: a native of Doris.

Doric, dor′ik, adj. belonging to Doris in Greece, denoting one of the Greek orders of architecture, distinguished by its simplicity and solidity.—n. one of the modes of Greek music: a dialect of the Greek language distinguished by the use of broad vowel sounds: any dialect having this character, as Scotch.—ns. Dor′icism, Dor′ism, a peculiarity of the Doric dialect. [Fr. dorique—L. Doricus—Gr. Dōris.]

Dorking, dork′ing, n. a square-bodied breed of poultry, variously coloured, and with five claws on each foot—so named from Dorking in Surrey.

Dorlach, dor′lah, n. a bundle, a knapsack.—Also Dor′loch. [Gael.]

Dormant, dor′mant, adj. sleeping: at rest: not used, in abeyance (as a title): in a sleeping posture: (archit.) leaning.—n. a crossbeam: a joist.—n. Dor′mancy, quiescence.—ns. Dor′mer-win′dow, a vertical window, esp. of a sleeping-room (formerly called dormer), on the sloping roof of a house; Dormi′tion, sleeping.—adj. Dor′mitive, causing sleep (of medicine), as opium.—ns. Dor′mitory, a large sleeping-chamber with many beds; Dor′mouse, a small rodent intermediate between the squirrel and the mouse, so called because torpid in winter:—pl. Dor′mice; Dor′tour (Spens.) a dormitory. [Fr. dormir—L. dormīre, to sleep.]

Dormy, Dormie, dor′mi, adj. a term applied to one player at golf, when he is as many holes ahead as there remain holes to be played.

Dornick, dor′nik, n. a kind of stout figured linen, originally made at Doornik, or Tournay, in Belgium.

Dorp, dorp, n. a rare form of thorp, village.

Dorsal, dor′sal, adj. pertaining or belonging to the back.—adv. Dor′sally.—n. Dorse (obs.), the back of a writing: a dossal: the back.—adj. Dorsibranch′iate, having gills on the back.—n. one of the Dorsibranchiata, including free marine worms.—adjs. Dorsif′erous, dorsigerous: dorsiparous; Dorsig′erous, carrying on the back; Dor′sigrade, walking on the back of the toes; Dorsip′arous, bearing fruit on the back: hatching young upon the back; Dor′sispin′al, pertaining to both the back and the spine; Dorsiven′tral, Dorsabdom′inal, pertaining to the back and the belly; Dorsocau′dal, superior and posterior in direction or position; Dorsocer′vical, pertaining to the back of the neck.—n. Dorsoflex′ion, a bending of the back, a bow.—adjs. Dorsolat′eral, pertaining to the back and the side; Dorsolum′bar, pertaining to the whole dorsal region of the trunk—also Dorsilum′bar; Dorsomē′dian, situated in the middle of the back; Dorsomes′al, lying along the middle line of the back—also Dorsimes′al; Dorsopleu′ral, pertaining to the back and the side.—n. Dors′um.—Send to dorse, to throw on the back. [Fr.,—L. dorsum, the back.]

Dorse, dors, n. a young cod. [Low Ger. dorsch.]

Dorty, dor′ti, adj. (Scot.), pettish: delicate.

Dory, dō′ri, n. a fish of a golden-yellow colour.—Also John Dory and Doree. [Fr. dorée, from dorer, to gild—L. deaurāre, to gild—de, of, with, and aurum, gold. John is simply the ordinary name.]

Dose, dōs, n. the quantity of medicine given to be taken at one time: a portion: anything disagreeable that must be taken.—v.t. to order or give in doses: to give anything nauseous to.—ns. Dōs′age, a practice or method of dosing; Dosim′eter, an apparatus for measuring minute quantities of liquid.—adj. Dosimet′ric.—n. Dosol′ogy, the science of doses—also Dosiol′ogy. [O. Fr. dose—Gr. dosis, a giving—didōmi, I give.]

Doseh, dō′se, n. a religious ceremony at Cairo during the festival of the Moolid, in which the sheik rides on horseback over the prostrate bodies of dervishes.

Dossal, dos′sal, n. a cloth hanging, of various colours at various festivals, for the back of an altar and the sides of the chancel of a church.—Also Dos′sel. [Late L. dossale, dorsale—L. dorsum, the back.]

Dosser, dos′er, n. a rich hanging of tapestry for the walls of a hall or of a chancel: a pannier.

Doss-house, dos′-hows, n. a very cheap lodging-house.—n. Doss′er, one who lodges in a doss-house. [Perh. from doss, a prov. Eng. name for a hassock.]

Dossil, dos′il, n. a plug, spigot: a cloth roll for wiping ink from an engraved plate in printing: (surg.) a pledget of lint for cleaning out a wound. [O. Fr. dosil—Late L. ducillus, a spigot.]

Dost, dust, 2d pers. sing. pres. indic. of Do.

Dot, dot, n. any small mark made with a pen or sharp point.—v.t. to mark with dots: to diversify with objects.—v.i. to form dots:—pr.p. dot′ting; pa.p. dot′ted.—Dot and carry, in addition, to set down the units and carry over the tens to the next column. [Prob. related to the Dut. dot, a little lump.]

Dotation, dō-tā′shun, n. the act of bestowing a dowry on a woman: an endowment.—n. Dot, a marriage portion.—adj. Dō′tal, pertaining to dowry or to dower. [Low L. dotation-em—L. dotāre, to endow.]

Dote, dōt, v.i. (arch.) to be stupid or foolish: to be weakly affectionate: to show excessive love—formerly also spelt Doat.—ns. Dōt′age, a doting: childishness of old age: excessive fondness; Dōt′ant (Shak.), a dotard; Dōt′ard, one who dotes: one showing the weakness of old age, or excessive fondness.—adj. Dōt′ed (Spens.), stupid.—n. Dōt′er, one who dotes.—p.adj. and n. Dōt′ing.—adjs. Dōt′ish, silly; Dot′tle (Scot.), stupid.—n. a dotard.—adj. Dot′ty, feeble in mind: tottering. [Old Dut. doten, to be silly, Scot. doitet, stupid; Fr. radoter, to rave, is from the same root.]

Doth, duth, 3d pers. sing. pres. indic. of Do.

Dotterel, dot′ėr-el, n. a kind of plover, named from its apparent stupidity in allowing itself to be approached and caught: a stupid fellow, a dupe. [Also spelt dottrel, from dote.]

Dottle, dot′l, n. (Scot.) a plug, esp. the tobacco at the bottom of a pipe after smoking, sometimes put on the top of fresh tobacco after refilling.

Douane, dōō-än′, n. a custom-house.—n. Douan′ier, a custom-house officer. [Fr.]

Douar, Dowar, dow′ar, n. a cluster of Arab tents in a circle.

Douay Bible. See Rhemish (version).

Double, dub′l, adj. twofold: twice as much: of extra weight, size, or quality: two of a sort together: in pairs: acting two parts, insincere.—adv. Doub′ly. [O. Fr. doble—L. duplus—duo, two, and plus, akin to plenus, full.]

Double, dub′l, v.t. to multiply by two, to be the double of: to fold: to repeat: to clench: to pass round or by.—v.i. to increase to twice the quantity: to turn sharply back on one's course in running.—n. twice as much: a duplicate: an actor's substitute: a quick pace (short for double-quick): one's wraith or apparition: one's exact counterpart: a trick: (eccles.) a feast on which the antiphon is said both before and after the psalms.—adjs. Doub′le-act′ing, applying power in two directions: producing a double result; Dou′ble-banked, having two men at each oar, or having two tiers of oars one above the other, as in ancient galleys; Doub′le-barr′elled, having two barrels.—n. Doub′le-bass, the lowest-toned instrument of violin form.—adjs. Doub′le-bit′ing, cutting on either side; Doub′le-breast′ed, of a coat having two breasts, one to be folded over the other.—ns. Doub′le-charge, to charge with a double measure; Doub′le-deal′er, a deceitful person; Doub′le-deal′ing, duplicity.—adj. Doub′le-decked, having two decks above water-line.—n. Doub′le-deck′er, a double-decked frigate.—adj. Doub′le-dyed, twice dyed: deeply imbued (as a double-dyed villain).—n. Doub′le-ea′gle (U.S.), a gold coin worth $20, or £4, 2s. 2d.: the heraldic representation of an eagle with two heads, as in the arms of Russia and Austria.—adj. Doub′le-edged, having two edges: cutting or working both ways.—ns. Doub′le-end′er, anything having two ends alike: a cross-cut sawing machine, with two adjustable circular saws, for sawing both ends of timber; Doub′le-en′try (book-k.), a method by which two entries are made of each transaction.—adjs. Doub′le-eyed, having a deceitful countenance; Doub′le-faced, hypocritical, false.—ns. Doub′le-fā′cedness; Doub′le-first, at Oxford, a degree with first-class honours in mathematics and classics: one who takes such a degree.—adj. Doub′le-flow′ered, having double flowers, as a plant.—v.t. Doub′le-gild, to gild with double coatings of gold: to gloze over.—n. Doub′le-Glos′ter, Gloucestershire cheese of extra richness.—adjs. Doub′le-hand′ed, having two hands, two-handled; Doub′le-head′ed, having two heads; Doub′le-heart′ed, treacherous; Doub′le-hung, suspended, as a window-sash, so as to move either upward or downward; Doub′le-locked, locked with two locks or bolts: locked by two turns of the key, as in very few locks but many novels; Doub′le-manned, furnished with twice the complement of men; Doub′le-mean′ing, deceitful; Doub′le-mind′ed, undetermined, wavering.—n. Doub′le-mind′edness.—adj. Doub′le-nā′tured, having a twofold nature.—n. Doub′leness, the state of being double: duplicity.—adj. and adv. Doub′le-quick, the pace next a run.—n. the double-quick pace.—v.t. Doub′le-shade (Milt.), to double the natural darkness.—adj. Doub′le-shot′ted, of cannon, with two shots in them.—ns. Doub′le-shuff′le (see Shuffle); Doub′le-stop′ping, playing on two stopped strings of a violin at once; Doub′le-stout, extra strong stout or porter.—adj. Doub′le-tongued, deceitful.—n. Doub′ling, the act of making double: a turning back in running: a trick: a plait or fold.—adj. shifting, manœuvring.

Double entendre, doobl′ ong-tongdr, n. an equivoque, a word or phrase with two meanings, one usually more or less indecent. [Fr. of 17th century, superseded now by (mot) à double entente.]

Doublet, dub′let, n. a pair: an inner garment: name given to words that are really the same, but vary somewhat in spelling and signification, as desk, disc, and dish, describe and descry. [O. Fr., dim. of double.]

Doubloon, dub-loon′, n. an obsolete Spanish gold coin double the value of a pistole—varying from 33s. in 1772 to 20s. 8d. in 1848. [Sp. doblon.]

Doubt, dowt, v.i. to waver in opinion: to be uncertain: to hesitate: to suspect: to believe with fear or hesitation: (Scot.) to think, even without the sense of hesitation.—v.t. to hold in doubt: to distrust.—p.adj. Doubt′ed (Spens.), questioned: feared, redoubted. [O. Fr. douter—L. dubitāre, akin to dubius, doubtful, moving in two (duo) directions.]

Doubt, dowt, n. uncertainty of mind: suspicion: fear: a thing doubted or questioned.—adj. Doubt′able.—n. Doub′ter.—adj. Doubt′ful, full of doubt: undetermined: not clear: not secure: suspicious: not confident.—adv. Doubt′fully.—n. Doubt′fulness.—p.adj. Doubt′ing, that doubts, undecided.—advs. Doubt′ingly; Doubt′less, without doubt: certainly; Doubt′lessly.

Douc, dook, n. a species of monkey in Cochin-China.

Douce, dōōs, adj. (obs.) sweet: (Scot.) sober, peaceable, sedate.—adv. Douce′ly.—n. Douce′ness.—n.pl. Douc′ets, the stones of a deer.—n. Douceur (dōō-sėr′), sweetness of manner (obs.): something intended to please, a present or a bribe. [Fr. doux, douce, mild—L. dulcis, sweet.]

Douche, dōōsh, n. a jet of water directed upon the body from a pipe: an apparatus for throwing such. [Fr.,—It. doccia, a water-pipe—L. ducĕre, to lead.]

Doucine, doo-sēn′, n. (archit.) a cyma recta. [Fr.]

Dough, dō, n. a mass of flour or meal moistened and kneaded, but not baked.—adjs. Dough′-baked, half-baked, defective in intelligence; Dough′faced (U.S.) pliable, truckling.—n. Dough′iness.—adj. Dough′-knead′ed (Milt.), soft.—n. Dough′-nut, sweetened dough fried in fat.—adj. Dough′y, like dough: soft. [A.S. dáh; Ger. teig, Ice. deig, dough; prov. dow and duff.]

Doughty, dow′ti, adj. able, strong: brave.—adv. Dough′tily.—n. Dough′tiness. [A.S. dyhtig, valiant—dugan, to be strong; Ger. tüchtig, solid.]

Doum-palm. Same as Doom-palm.

Doup, dowp, n. (Scot.) bottom, buttocks.—n. Can′dle-doup, a candle-end. [Cf. Ice. daup.]

Dour, dōōr, adj. (Scot.) obstinate: bold. [Fr.,—L. durus, hard.]

Doura. See Durra.

Douse, Dowse, dows, v.t. to plunge into water.—v.i. to fall suddenly into water. [Cf. Sw. dunsa, fall heavily. Prob. from sound; cf. souse.]

Douse, Dowse, dows, v.t. to strike: to strike or lower a sail.—n. a heavy blow. [Prob. related to Old Dut. dossen, to beat.]

Douse, Dowse, dows, v.t. to put out, extinguish (esp. in the slang Douse the glim, put out the light). [Prob. a corr. of the obs. verb dout below; more likely a particular use of douse, to strike.]

Dout, dowt, v.t. to put out, extinguish.—n. Dout′er. [Do out.]

Dove, duv, n. a pigeon (esp. in comp., as ringdove, turtle-dove, &c.): a word of endearment: an emblem of innocence, gentleness, also of the Holy Spirit—the 'Holy Dove' (Matt. iii. 16).—v.t. to treat as a dove.—ns. Dove′-col′our, a grayish, bluish, pinkish colour; Dove′cot, -cote, a small cot or box in which pigeons breed.—adjs. Dove′-drawn (Shak.), drawn by doves; Dove′-eyed, meek-eyed.—ns. Dove′-house, a dovecot; Dove′let, a small dove.—adj. Dove′-like, innocent.—ns. Dove's′-foot, the common name for Geranium molle; Dove′ship, the character or quality of a dove.—Flutter the dovecots, to disturb commonplace, conventional people, as the eagle would a dovecot (see Shak., Cor. V. vi. 115). [A.S. dufe in dúfe-doppa; Ger. taube.]

Dovekie, duv′ki, n. the little auk, a diving bird of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.

Dover, dō′ver, v.i. (Scot.) to slumber lightly, doze off.—v.t. to send off into a light sleep.—n. a slight unsettled sleep.

Dover's powder, dō′verz pow′der, n. a valuable sudorific medicine, compounded of ipecacuanha root, powdered opium, and sulphate of potash. [From Dr Thomas Dover, 1660-1742.]

Dovetail, duv′tāl, n. a mode of fastening boards together by fitting pieces shaped like a wedge or a dove's tail spread out (tenons) into corresponding cavities (mortises).—v.t. to fit one thing into another.

Dow, dow, v.i. (obs.) to be good for a purpose: (Scot.) to be able.—p.adjs. Docht, Dought. [A.S. dugan.]

Dowager, dow′a-jėr, n. a widow with a dower or jointure: a title given to a widow to distinguish her from the wife of her husband's heir. [O. Fr. douagere—Low L. dotarium—L. dotāre, to endow.]

Dowdy, dow′di, adj. untidy, carelessly dressed, soft and slack in habit.—n. an untidy woman.—adv. Dow′dily.—ns. Dow′diness, Dow′dyism.—adj. Dow′dyish. [Ety. unknown.]

Dowel, dow′el, n. a pin of wood or iron inserted in the edges of two adjacent boards for the purpose of fastening them together.—v.t. to fasten by means of dowels.—ns. Dow′el-joint; Dow′el-pin. [Prob. related to Ger. döbel, a plug.]

Dower, dow′ėr, n. a jointure, that part of the husband's property which his widow enjoys during her life—sometimes used for Dow′ry.—adjs. Dow′able, that may be endowed; Dow′ered, furnished with dower.—n. Dow′er-house, the house set apart for the widow.—adj. Dow′erless. [O. Fr. douaire—Low L. dotarium—L. dotāre, to endow.]

Dowf, dowf, adj. (Scot.) dull, heavy, spiritless.—n. Dowf′ness. [Prob. Ice. daufr, deaf.]

Dowie, dow′i, adj. (Scot.) dull, low-spirited, sad. [Prob. A.S. dol, dull.]

Dowlas, dowlas, n. a coarse linen cloth. [From Daoulas or Doulas, near Brest, in Brittany.]

Dowle, dowl, n. (Shak.) a portion of down in a feather.

Down, down, n. the soft hair under the feathers of fowls: the hairy covering of the seeds of certain plants: anything which soothes or invites to repose.—n. Down′-bed.—p.adj. Downed, filled or covered with down.—ns. Down′iness; Down′-quilt.—adj. Down′y, covered with or made of down: like down: soft: soothing: (slang) knowing.—The downy (slang), bed. [Ice. dúnn; Ger. daune, dune.]

Down, down, n. a bank of sand thrown up by the sea (same as Dune): a treeless land: (pl.) a tract of hilly land, used for pasturing sheep, as the North Downs (Kent) and South Downs (Sussex)—also given to the famous roadstead off the east coast of Kent, inside the Goodwin Sands. [A.S. dún, a hill; prob. from Celt. dun, as in Dunkeld, &c.]

Down, down, adv. from a higher to a lower position: on the ground: from earlier to later times: from thick to thin, from large to small (to boil down, to cut down): from more to less (to beat down a price).—prep. along a descent: from a higher to a lower position or state.—v.t. to knock down: to dispirit—also used as a kind of interjection, with get, go, come, kneel, &c. understood.—n. a tendency to be down upon, a grudge against: a descent, reverse of fortune.—v.i. Down′-bear, to bear or press down.—adj. Down′cast, dejected.—ns. Down′come, a fall, ruin, a heavy pour of rain; Down′-draught, a current of air downwards; Down′-east′er, one living 'down east' from the speaker, a New Englander, and esp. an inhabitant of Maine; Down′fall, fall, failure, humiliation, ruin: a falling down, as of rain.—adjs. Down′fallen, ruined; Down′-gyved (Shak.), hanging down like fetters.—n. Down′-haul, a rope by which a jib, &c., is hauled down when set.—adjs. Down′-heart′ed, dejected; Down′hill, descending, sloping.—n. Down′-line, the line of a railway leading from the capital, or other important centre, to the provinces.—adj. Down′looked (Dryden), downcast, gloomy.—ns. Down′-ly′ing, time of retiring to rest: a woman's lying-in; Down′pour, a heavy fall of rain, &c.—adv. Down′right (obs.), perpendicular: in plain terms: utterly.—adj. plain spoken: brusque: utter (as in downright madness).—ns. Down′rightness; Down′rush, a rushing down (as of gas, hot air, &c.); Down′-set′ting, a setting down, a snub; Down′-sit′ting, sitting down, time of rest (Ps. cxxxix. 2).—advs. Down′stairs, in, or to, a lower story; Down′-stream, with the current.—ns. Down′-throw, act of throwing down, state of being thrown down: a sinking of strata below the level of the surrounding beds; Down′-train, a railway train proceeding from the chief terminus.—adj. Down′-trodden, trampled on, tyrannised over.—advs. Down′ward, Down′wards, from higher to lower: from source to outlet: from more ancient to modern: in the lower part.—adj. Down′ward.—Down east (U.S.), in or into Maine and adjoining parts of New England; Down in the mouth, in low spirits; Down on one's luck, in ill-luck; Down south, in the southern states; Down to the country, away into the country, from London (hence 'down to the Derby,' 'down to Scotland'); Down with your money, lay it down, pay it.—A down-train, a train away from London.—Lay down the law, to expound authoritatively. [A corr. of M. E. a-dawn, adun—A.S. of dúne, 'from the hill'—A.S. dún, a hill.]

Dowry, dow′ri, n. the property which a woman brings to her husband at marriage—sometimes used for dower. [See Dower.]

Dowse, dows, v.t. and v.i. See Douse.

Dowse, dows, v.i. to use the divining-rod.—n. Dows′er, a water diviner.

Doxology, doks-ol′o-ji, n. a hymn expressing praise and honour to the Trinity.—adj. Doxolog′ical. [Gr. doxologia—doxa, praise, and legein, to speak.]

Doxy, dok′si, n. (Shak.) a mistress: a woman of loose character. [Prob. conn. with East Fries. dok, a bundle, Low Ger. dokke.]

Doxy, dok′si, n. opinion—'Orthodoxy,' said Warburton, 'is my doxy—heterodoxy is another man's doxy.' [Gr. doxa, opinion.]

Doyen, dwaw′yong, n. dean, senior member (of an academy, diplomatic corps, &c.). [Fr.,—Lat. dēcanus.]

Doyley. See Doily.

Doze, dōz, v.i. to sleep lightly, or to be half-asleep: to be in a dull or stupefied state.—v.i. to spend in drowsiness (with away).—n. a short light sleep.—adj. Dozed, drowsy.—v.t. Dō′zen (Scot.), to stupefy.—v.i. to become stupefied.—ns. Dō′zer; Dō′ziness; Dō′zing.—adj. Dō′zy, drowsy. [From a Scand. root, seen in Ice. dúsa, Dan. döse, to dose.]

Dozen, duz′n, adj. two and ten, or twelve.—n. a collection of twelve articles.—adj. Doz′enth.—Baker's dozen, Devil's dozen, thirteen. [O. Fr. dozeine—L. duodecim—duo, two, and decem, ten.]

Drab, drab, n. a low, sluttish woman: a whore.—v.i. to associate with bad women.—ns. Drab′ber, one who herds with drabs; Drab′biness.—adjs. Drab′bish, Drab′by, sluttish. [Celt.; Gael. drabag; Ir. drabog, slut.]

Drab, drab, n. thick, strong, gray cloth: a gray or dull-brown colour, perh. from the muddy colour of undyed wool. [Fr. drap, cloth—Low L. drappus, prob. Teut.]

Drabbet, drab′et, n. a coarse linen fabric made at Barnsley.

Drabble, drab′l, v.t. to besmear with mud and water.—n. Drabb′ling, a manner of fishing for barbels with a rod and long line passed through a piece of lead. [Cf. drivel, dribble; prob. conn. with drab, a low woman.]

Drabbler, drab′ler, n. an additional piece of canvas, laced to the bottom of the bonnet of a sail, to give it greater depth.

Dracanth, drak′anth, n. gum tragacanth.

Dracæna, dra-sē′na, n. the tree which produces the resin called Dragon's-blood.—n. Dracī′na, the red resin of dragon's-blood used to colour varnishes—also Dracine′, Dracō′nin. [Low L. dracæna, a she-dragon—Gr. drakaina, fem. of drakōn, dragon.]

Drachm, dram, n. See Drachma, Dram.

Drachma, drak′ma, n. an ancient Greek weight, and silver coin of different values: a modern Greek coin = above 9½d. sterling. [Gr. drachmē—drassesthai, to grasp with the hand.]

Draco, drā′kō, n. a northern constellation: a dragon-lizard.

Draconian, dra-kō′nyan, adj. severe, as was the legislation, of Draco, the Athenian archon (621 B.C.).—Also Dracon′ic.

Dracontium, drā-kon′shi-um, n. a genus of American araceous plants: the root of the skunk-cabbage. [Gr.,—drakōn, a dragon.]

Dracunculus, drā-kun′kū-lus, n. a herbaceous genus of Araceæ; a dragonet or goby of genus Callionymus: a genus of worms, the guinea-worm. [L., dim, of draco, a dragon.]

Drad, drad, p.adj. or n. form used by Spenser for dread and dreaded.

Draff, draf, n. dregs: the refuse of malt that has been brewed from.—adjs. Draff′ish, Draff′y, worthless. [Prob. related to Dut. draf, Ger. träber.]

Draft, dräft, n. anything drawn: a selection of men from an army, &c.: an order for the payment of money: lines drawn for a plan: a rough sketch: the depth to which a vessel sinks in water.—v.t. to draw an outline of: to compose and write: to draw off: to detach.—ns. Draft′-bar, a swingle-tree, the bar to which the coupling of a railway-carriage is attached; Draft′-horse, a horse used for drawing the plough, heavy loads, &c., in distinction to a carriage or saddle horse; Draft′-ox, an ox used for drawing loads; Drafts′man, one who draws plans or designs; Drafts′manship. [A corr. of Draught.]

Drafts, dräfts, n.pl. a game. [See Draughts.]

Drag, drag, v.t. to draw by force: to draw slowly: to pull roughly and violently: to explore with a drag-net or hook.—v.i. to hang so as to trail on the ground: to be forcibly drawn along: to move slowly and heavily:—pr.p. drag′ging; pa.p. dragged.—n. a net or hook for dragging along to catch things under water: a heavy harrow: a device for guiding wood to the saw: a mail-coach: a long open carriage, with transverse or side seats: a contrivance for retarding carriage-wheels in going down slopes: any obstacle to progress: an artificial scent (anise-seed, &c.) dragged on the ground for foxhounds trained to the pursuit (Drag′-hounds) to follow: (billiards) a push somewhat under the centre of the cue-ball, causing it to follow the object-ball a short way.—ns. Drag′-bar, a strong iron bar for connecting railway-carriages together—also Draw′-bar; Drag′-bolt, a strong bolt passing through the drag-bar of railway-carriages, and serving to fasten the coupling; Drag′-chain, the chain that connects engine and tender, or carriages and wagons, with one another; Drag′-man, a fisherman who uses a drag-net; Drag′-net, a net to be dragged or drawn along the bottom of water to catch fish; Drags′man, the driver of a drag or coach. [A.S. dragan; Ger. tragen. Acc. to Curtius, nowise conn. with L. trahĕre.]

Dragantin, dra-gan′tin, n. a mucilage obtained from gum tragacanth.

Draggle, drag′l, v.t. or v.i. to make or become wet and dirty by dragging along the ground.—n. Dragg′le-tail, a slut.—adj. Dragg′le-tailed. [Freq. of drag, and a doublet of drawl.]

Dragoman, drag′o-man, n. an interpreter or guide in Eastern countries:—pl. Drag′omans. [Fr., from Ar. tarjumân—tarjama, to interpret. See Targum.]

Dragon, drag′un, n. a fabulous winged serpent: the constellation Draco: a fierce person: the flying lizard of the East Indies.—ns. Drag′onet, a little dragon: a genus of fishes of the goby family; Drag′on-fly, an insect with a long body and brilliant colours.—v.t. Drag′onise, to turn into a dragon: to watch like a dragon.—adjs. Drag′onish, Drag′on-like.—n. Drag′onism, watchful guardianship.—adj. Dragonné (her.), like a dragon in the hinder part, and a lion or the like in the fore part.—ns. Drag′on's-blood, the red resinous exudation of several kinds of trees in the W. and E. Indies, used for colouring; Drag′on's-head, a plant of genus Dracocephalum, of the mint family (Labiatæ): (her.) tenné or tawny when blazoning is done by the heavenly bodies; Drag′on-shell, a cowry; Drag′on's-wort, tarragon or snake-weed; Drag′on-tree (same as Dracæna). [Fr.,—L. draco, draconis—Gr. drakōn, from aorist of derk-esthai, to look.]

Dragonnade, drag-on-ād′, n. the persecution of French Protestants under Louis XIV. by raids of dragoons: abandonment of a place to the violence of soldiers. [Fr., from dragon, dragoon.]

Dragoon, dra-gōōn′, n. formerly a soldier trained to fight either on horseback or on foot, now applied only to heavy cavalry as opposed to hussars and lancers.—v.t. to give up to the rage of soldiers: to compel by violent measures.—n. Dragoon′-bird, the umbrella-bird. [Fr. See Dragon.]

Dragsman. See Drag.

Drail, drāl, n. the iron bow of a plough from which the traces draw: a piece of lead round the shank of the hook in fishing.—v.i. to draggle.

Drain, drān, v.t. to draw off by degrees: to filter: to clear of water by drains: to make dry: to drink dry: to exhaust.—v.i. to flow off gradually.—n. a watercourse: a ditch: a sewer: (slang) a drink: exhausting expenditure.—adj. Drain′able.—ns. Drain′age, the drawing off of water by rivers or other channels: the system of drains in a town; Drain′age-basin, the area of land which drains into one river; Drain′age-tube, a tube of silver, india-rubber, glass, &c., introduced by a surgeon into a wound or abscess to draw off pus, &c.; Drain′er, a utensil on which articles are placed to drain; Drain′ing-en′gine, a pumping-engine for mines, &c.; Drain′ing-plough, a form of plough used in making drains; Drain′-pipe; Drain′-tile; Drain′-trap, a contrivance for preventing the escape of foul air from drains, but admitting the water into them. [A.S. dréahnigan—dragan, to draw.]

Drake, drāk, n. the male of the duck.—n. Drake′stone, a flat stone thrown along the surface of water so as to graze it and then rebound. [Ety. dub.; cf. prov. Ger. draak; O. High Ger. antrahho, Ger. enterich, the first element usually explained as eend, end, anut, 'duck.']

Drake, drāk, n. a dragon: a fiery meteor: a beaked galley, or Viking ship of war: an angler's name for species of Ephemera. [A.S. draca, dragon—L. draco.]

Dram, dram, n. a contraction of Drachm: 1⁄16th of an oz. avoirdupois: formerly, with apothecaries, ⅛th of an oz.: as much raw spirits as is drunk at once.—v.i. to drink a dram.—v.t. to give a dram to.—ns. Dram′-drink′er; Dram′-shop. [Through Fr. and L., from Gr. drachmē. See Drachma.]

Drama, dram′a, n. a story of human life and action represented by actors imitating the language, dress, &c. of the original characters: a composition intended to be represented on the stage: dramatic literature: theatrical entertainment: a series of deeply interesting events.—adjs. Dramatic, -al, belonging to the drama: appropriate to or in the form of a drama: with the force and vividness of the drama.—adv. Dramat′ically.—n. Dramat′icism.—adj. Dram′atīsable.—n. Dramatisā′tion, the act of dramatising: the dramatised version of a novel or story.—v.i. Dram′atīse, to compose in, or turn into, the form of a drama or play.—n. Dram′atist, a writer of plays.—Dram′atis persō′næ (-ē), the characters of a drama or play. [L.,—Gr. drama, dramatos—draein, to do.]

Dramaturgy, dram′a-tur-ji, n. the principles of dramatic composition: theatrical art.—ns. Dram′aturge, Dram′aturgist, a playwright.—adj. Dram′aturgic. [Through Fr. from Gr. dramatourgia, dramatourgos, playwright—drama, and ergon, a work.]

Drammock, dram′ok, n. meal and water mixed raw.

Drank, drangk, pa.t. of Drink.

Drant, drant, v.i. and v.t. (prov.) to drawl, to drone.—n. a droning tone.

Draper, drāp′ėr, n. one who deals in drapery or cloth:—fem. Drap′eress.—n. Drap-de-Berry, a woollen cloth, coming from Berry in France.—v.t. Drape, to cover with cloth.—p.adj. Drap′eried, draped.—n. Drap′ery, cloth goods: hangings of any kind: the draper's business: (art) the representation of the dress of human figures.—v.t. to drape.—n. Drap′et (Spens.), cloth, coverlet. [Fr. drapier—drap, from a Teut. root. See Drab.]

Drappie, Drappy, drap′i, n. (Scot.) a little drop, esp. of spirits.

Drastic, dras′tik, adj. active, powerful.—n. a medicine that purges quickly or thoroughly.—adv. Dras′tically. [Gr. drastikos—draein, to act, to do.]

Drat, drat, v.t. a minced oath used to express vexation, as 'Drat the boy!' [Aphetic from God rot!]

Dratchell, drach′el, n. (prov.) a slut.—Also Drotch′ell.

Draught, dräft, n. act of drawing: force needed to draw: the act of drinking: the quantity drunk at a time: outline of a picture: that which is taken in a net by drawing: a chosen detachment of men: a current of air: the depth to which a ship sinks in the water.—v.t. (more commonly Draft), to draw out.—n. Draught′-en′gine, the engine over the shaft of a coal-pit.—n.pl. Draught′-hooks, large iron hooks fixed on the cheeks of a cannon-carriage.—ns. Draught′-house (B.), a sink, privy; Draught′iness; Draught′-net, a drag-net.—n.pl. Draughts, a game in which two persons make alternate moves (draughts) on a checkered board, called the Draught′board, with pieces called Draughts′men—U.S. checkers, Scot. dambrod.—n. Draughts′man (see Draftsman).—adj. Draught′y, full of draughts or currents of air. [M. E. draht—A.S. dragan, to draw. See Drag, v., and Draw.]

Drave, drāv, old pa.t. of Drive.

Dravidian, dra-vid′i-an, n. of the non-Aryan stock to which the Tamil, Telugu, Canarese, and Malayālam speaking peoples of Southern India belong: of the languages of these races. [Sans. Drāvida, an ancient province of Southern India.]

Draw, draw, v.t. to pull along: to bring forcibly towards one: to entice, attract: to coax into giving information: to make one express himself (also to Draw out a man): to inhale: to take out: to evoke or bring out by some artifice: to extract by pulling: to cast lots: to extract the essence of: to eviscerate (hang, draw, and quarter): to manufacture (wire) by drawing through a small hole: to deduce: to lengthen: to extend to the full length (as in drawing a bow): to force to appear (as a badger from its hole): to receive (as revenues): to demand money by a draft: to make a picture of, by lines drawn: to describe: to require a depth of water for floating.—v.i. to pull: to practise drawing: to move: to approach: to have a free current (of a chimney):—pa.t. drew (drōō); pa.p. drawn.—n. the act of drawing: anything drawn: a drawn or undecided game.—adj. Draw′able.—ns. Draw′back, a disadvantage: a receiving back some part of the duty on goods on their exportation; Draw′-bar (same as Drag-bar); Draw′-boy, the boy who pulls the cords of the harness in figure-weaving, a mechanical device for this purpose; Draw′bridge, a bridge that can be drawn up or let down at pleasure; Drawēē′, the person on whom a bill of exchange is drawn; Draw′er, he or that which draws: one who draws beer or fetches liquor in a tavern: a thing drawn out, like the sliding box in a case: (pl.) a close under-garment for the lower limbs; Draw′-gear, the apparatus by which railway-cars are coupled; Draw′ing, the art of representing objects by lines drawn, shading, &c.: a picture: the distribution of prizes, as at a lottery; Draw′ing-board; Draw′ing-frame, a machine in which carded wool, cotton, or the like is drawn out fine; Draw′ing-knife, a knife with a handle at each end, used by coopers for shaving hoops by drawing it towards one; Draw′ing-mas′ter; Draw′ing-pā′per; Draw′ing-pen; Draw′ing-pen′cil; Draw′ing-room, in engineering, a room where plans and patterns are drawn; Draw′ing-tā′ble, a table which can be extended in length by drawing out sliding leaves; Draw′-net (same as Drag-net); Draw′-plate, a plate of steel or ruby with a hole drilled in it through which wire, tubing, or the like is drawn to make it more slender; Draw′-well, a well from which water is drawn up by a bucket and apparatus.—Draw a bead on (see Bead); Draw a blank (see Blank); Draw a cover, to send the hounds into a cover to frighten out a fox; Draw blank, to do so, but find no fox; Draw back, to retire: to withdraw from an engagement; Draw cuts, to cast lots; Draw in, to reduce, contract: to become shorter; Draw it fine, to be too precise; Draw it mild, to state a thing without exaggeration; Draw near, to approach; Draw off, to take wine, ale, &c. out of a barrel: to retire; Draw on, to approach (of a fixed date); Draw on one's imagination, to make imaginative or lying statements; Draw on one's memory, to try to remember; Draw out, to leave the place (of an army), &c.; Draw over, to persuade to desert to the other side; Draw rein, to slacken speed, to stop; Draw the line, to fix a limit; Draw up, to form in regular order: to arrange or to be arranged (as troops): to compose (as a protest, &c.): to stop (as in driving a carriage).—In drawing, correctly drawn; Out of drawing, inaccurately drawn, or drawn in violation of the principles of drawing. [A later form of Drag.]